Northern Schools work to improve children’s mental health

With continued reports highlighting the lack of funding to support NHS children’s mental health interventions and this week’s news (https://www.theguardian.com/society/2016/jul/05/antidepressant-prescriptions-in-england-double-in-a-decade) that antidepressant prescriptions have doubled in a decade, a number of schools in the North of England are taking a more pro-active approach to children’s mental health. These schools are introducing preventative programmes that should, in the longer term, reduce the need for clinical intervention and the number of adults in the next generation requiring anti-depressants for a variety of conditions ranging from clinical depression to generalised anxiety disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder and panic attacks.

The Star Learning Alliance of 12 rural schools in North Yorkshire, for example, is half-way through a two-year £24,000 project funded by North Yorkshire County Council, aimed at increasing self-esteem and wellbeing and closing the attainment gap in educational achievement for children from disadvantaged backgrounds. At a celebration event on 22nd June, participating teachers and pupils shared their achievements and successes.

Gail Brown, executive head teacher for York-based Ebor Academy Trust and project lead, said at the end of the first year there was evidence of a direct, positive impact on attainment.

She said: “Schools have such a crucial role to play in the lives of children and young people and have to be aware of all their emotional and social circumstances.

Rebecca McGuinn, pastoral manager for York-based Ebor Academy Trust and lead coordinator, said: “Every child can be accessed. It’s all about relationships and making children feel valued. At least in school, we can be a crutch for them and they are safe, which for some is an achievement in itself.”

Clifton with Rawcliffe School, a progressive primary school in York, has introduced a number of initiatives to strengthen children’s mental health, including a focus on children having a ‘Growth Mindset’. In September 2015, the school piloted the ‘RWS | Resilience Wellbeing Success’ (http://rws.today) programme created by Paralympian Elizabeth Wright, Cancer Survivor Jayne Snell and Happiness & Resilience Expert Frederika Roberts. Since then, the school has run the programme with two additional year groups this academic year and re-booked the trio for September 2016.

“It is a unique and innovative programme led by three inspirational women. It is supported by Ofsted mapping and the lesson plans tick all the boxes in response to curriculum expectations” says Clifton with Rawcliffe Deputy Headteacher, Kerry Davies.

A Year 4 parent from the school also said "I have used many of the strategies you teach in my own situation. I think that this should be taught on the National Curriculum."

Other schools in York have also run the programme and opted to introduce this initiative in September 2016. RWS will also continue to run in a Manchester school from September and be introduced to a school in Darlington.

Rebecca McGuinn, pastoral manager for York-based Ebor Academy Trust and lead coordinator for the Star Alliance mental health project in North Yorkshire, invited the RWS team to run a session at their celebration event on 22nd June.

“What a power house these three are. They brought some magic to our conference today in North Yorkshire. I am grateful to them for inspiring our children and supporting our vision”, she said.

NHS funding is stretched very thinly as it is, and mental health has been dubbed the ‘Cinderella’ service. Could these primary school initiatives be the way forward to raise a generation of mentally healthy adults and reduce the demands on the NHS for anti-depressants and mental health therapies/interventions?

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IMAGE CAPTION
Children at Clifton with Rawcliffe School expressing their daily gratitudes with the help of ‘Resilience Beach Balls’
(Credit: Jessica Maiden)

NOTES FOR EDITORS
The RWS programme was developed by Frederika Roberts (The Happiness Speaker), Jayne Snell (Parachute of Dreams) and Elizabeth Wright (The Goal Journey Coach) to bring a combination of inspiration and a practical Resilience, Wellbeing and Success toolkit to pupils, their teachers and their parents, in order to improve the next generation’s mental health and enable them to make the most of what life has to offer. http://rws.todayhttp://happiness-speaker.co.ukhttp://jaynesnell.com/ http://www.elizabethwright.net/

The Sherburn, Tadcaster and Rural Alliance, commonly known as the STAR Alliance, is a partnership of primary and secondary schools dedicated to sharing their many skills, their wide experiences, while capitalising on their highly talented staff and making the most of the capacity they have to support , help and improve learning and achievement for all their students. http://starlearningalliance.org/

Clifton with Rawcliffe School was designed, built and September 2011. It is a unique place where teaching and learning ensures each child makes the best progress possible and fulfils their potential, in a stimulating and creative environment with exceptional facilities. http://www.cwr.york.sch.uk/

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About

Frederika is a Professional Speaker, certified Laughter Yoga Leader and Co-Founder of the ‘RWS Resilience Wellbeing Success’ programme. Through her keynotes and workshops, she helps individuals and organisations by changing and challenging thinking and behaviour with very simple, easy-to-implement happiness and resilience techniques.

Peppered with a sprinkling of culinary references, gentle humour and a real zest for life, her sessions are insightful, thought provoking and emotionally charged, yet lively and upbeat. Frederika has worked in recruitment, education, marketing and food, and has set up and run small businesses. As an expert in her field, she has been interviewed on BBC Breakfast, ITV Calendar News, BBC and other radio stations all over the UK, and featured and quoted in various publications, including The Guardian. Frederika is also a guest blogger for Huffington Post UK and author of the book ‘Recipe for Happiness: 9 Essential Ingredients for a Happy Life’.

Born in Italy, of dual Italian and German nationalities, she grew up in Luxembourg, then moved to the UK in 1990 to study at the University of Bradford. After obtaining her BSc Honours in Business and Management, Frederika undertook post-graduate studies in education and became a qualified teacher.

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RWS | Resilience Wellbeing Success
http://rws.today

The RWS programme was developed by Frederika Roberts (The Happiness Speaker), Jayne Snell (Parachute of Dreams) and Elizabeth Wright (The Goal Journey Coach) to bring a combination of inspiration and a practical Resilience, Wellbeing and Success toolkit to pupils, their teachers and their parents, in order to improve the next generation’s mental health and enable them to make the most of what life has to offer.